South Raleigh News

Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina has announced the commutation of death sentences for 15 individuals, converting their penalties to life imprisonment without parole. This decision followed an extensive review process that involved detailed clemency petitions from the defendants, consultations with district attorneys, and discussions with victims' families.

Governor Cooper emphasized the gravity of these decisions: “These reviews are among the most difficult decisions a Governor can make and the death penalty is the most severe sentence that the state can impose,” he stated. He added that after "thorough review, reflection, and prayer," he decided to commute these sentences while ensuring that those affected will remain in prison for life.

The state of North Carolina has not conducted any executions since 2006 due to ongoing legal challenges. Prior to this announcement, there were 136 inmates on death row in the state. The Governor's Clemency Office received clemency petitions from 89 of them, thoroughly evaluating each case before granting commutations to 15 individuals.

The criteria considered during this evaluation included multiple factors such as crime circumstances, input from prosecutors and victims' families, defendants' histories and behavior in prison, mental capacity at the time of crime, claims of innocence, racial influences in trials, co-defendants’ sentences, plea deal offers prior to trial, defendants’ age at the time of crime and current health status, quality of legal representation during trials and appeals, capital punishment laws at conviction time, juror actions and statements during trials, and appellate history including ongoing appeals.

The individuals whose sentences have been commuted are Hasson Bacote (38), Iziah Barden (67), Nathan Bowie (53), Rayford Burke (66), Elrico Fowler (49), Cerron Hooks (46), Guy LeGrande (65), James Little (38), Robbie Locklear (52), Lawrence Peterson (55), William Robinson (41), Christopher Roseboro (60), Darrell Strickland (66), Timothy White (47), and Vincent Wooten (52).